[procaare] HCC:Post Conference discussion -19

[Insight Initiative Team <insight@hdnet.org>]

HCC: Post Conference discussion - 19
- HDN Key Correspondents/Rapporteur Team,Thailand
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Building Capacity to Reduce Stigma

Dr. Susan Paxton (Asia and Pacific Network for People Living with HIV),shared her personal
experience of stigma and discrimination, which took place in Australia in 1992 when she
was first diagnosed as HIV positive. This incident occurred when the precautions to
prevent and manage HIV infection were supposedly in place within all health care
facilities.

Dr Paxton described an accident, which took place in her home where she fell onto a metal
tap in the bathroom and split her head open. She was sprawled on the bathroom floor in an
enormous pool of blood. The doctor was called to her home. As the doctor approached, she
said "before you touch me, I'd like to tell you that I am HIV-positive". The doctor
immediately backed away, and suggested she go to the surgery. He left without examining
her. Ten minutes later the doctor's secretary called to tell her not come to the surgery.

Sadly, this type of scenario is not an isolated event. Many people could share similar
painful stories. Fortunately the situation in Australia has improved since then, but this
is not the case in large parts of the world. Discrimination and stigmatization exist in
every society in every country.

Dr Paxton's plenary address set the scene so clearly for this theme, that with her
permission, we have extracted the closing paragraphs, which we would like to share with
you.

"Stigma leads to discrimination and to the deprivation of people's rights. This, in turn,
leads to fewer people coming forward voluntarily for HIV testing and consequently a low
visibility of ordinary people living positively with HIV. When the real face of AIDS
remains unseen, AIDS-related stigma proliferates, and the endless cycle is refuelled.

We can only break the destructive cycle of fear, denial and stigma and create a new, more
productive way forward by encouraging more people living with HIV to be involved in the
response and to speak out about living with the virus. Building AIDS competence within a
community takes time and it takes strong commitment and support. Newly diagnosed people
need early referral to peer support, help with disclosure to family members and skills to
enable them to remain productive members of society.

Capacity building starts a new self-perpetuating cycle. This is an open spiral that
encircles ever wider and encompasses more and more communities. Providing support to and
building the capacity of people with HIV, their families and carers enables more people to
put a face to AIDS without fear of discrimination. Human rights violations reduce, and
members of society take on greater responsibility for themselves and for the whole
community. This generates a more supportive and enabling environment for families of
positive people and enables more people to speak out.  AIDS-competent communities spiral
out.

It is time to give up ownership of the response to this disease and strengthen the
capacity of those directly affected by HIV to create effective solutions. By acknowledging
that people living with HIV are an epistemic group with particular, unique expertise and
who, if appropriately supported and trained, hold the key to an effective response to
AIDS, we can break the endless cycle of stigma, discrimination, human rights violations
and thwarted prevention and care efforts.

Support us, allow us to speak, provide training and build our capacity is what PLHAs need.
This will help reduce stigma".

HDN Key Correspondent Team
Rapporteur Team
E-mail: correspondents@hdnet.org
Dr Susan Paxton
Asia and Pacific Network for People Living with HIV
Email:s.paxton@posresponse.org

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The Insight Initiative Project is managed by Health & Development Networks (HDN) in
collaboration with the Thailand Red Cross Society, the World Health Organization and the
Royal Thailand Government, with financial support from AusAid and UNAIDS.

For more information about this project (the 'Insight Initiative'), visit the HDN website
at: http://www.hdnet.org

Fifth International Conference on Home and Community Care for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
Chiang Mai, Thailand - 17-20 December 2001
Website: http://www.hiv2001.com


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